Amherstburg police reminding people to “lock it or lose it”

Police Chief Tim Berthiaume and Auxiliary Sgt. Ron Paquette put a “Lock it or Lose it” card under a windshield wiper in the Walmart parking lot Dec. 15. Amherstburg police are reminding people to keep vehicles and homes locked and valuables secure.

By Ron Giofu

With holiday shopping in full swing, the Amherstburg Police Service is reminding people to lock their vehicles as well as their homes and garages.

The “Lock it or Lose it” campaign is underway with Chief Tim Berthiaume, Deputy Chief Ian Chappell and Auxiliary Sgt. Ron Paquette in the Walmart parking lot last Tuesday inspecting vehicles. Berthiaume said they were looking to see if the vehicles were locked and if valuables were safely stored out of sight.

Paquette added auxiliary officers have been busy with similar checks in other shopping plazas and stores.

“Our thefts are up this year,” said Berthiaume. “We’re also going to be targeting neighborhoods.”

The best way to keep homes and vehicles safe from theft is to lock the doors, the chief added.

“It’s a crime of opportunity,” said Berthiaume. “If doors are unlocked, they’ll go through your car. If the doors are locked, they’ll just move on to the next one.”

Berthiaume stated that thieves look for complacency and try and take advantage of that.

“It’s easy, quick cash for them,” he said.

Keeping valuables out of sight is another key, with that including money, purses, electronics such as cell phones or iPads, and Christmas presents.

“They should be storing valuables in the trunk of their car or hiding them within the car,” said Chappell.

Keeping garage doors closed and locked and locking doors at home is also recommended. Chappell noted many of the break-and-enters Amherstburg police investigates are not due to forced entry.

Berthiaume added similar “Lock it or Lose it” checks will continue to be done periodically in order to remind people to keep their doors locked and valuables safe.